RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
AIR FORCE BOARD FOR CORRECTION OF MILITARY RECORDS
IN THE MATTER OF: DOCKET NUMBER: BC-2005-02297
INDEX CODE: 107.00
XXXXXXXXXXX COUNSEL: NONE
XXXXXXXXXXXX HEARING DESIRED: NO
MANDATORY CASE COMPLETION DATE: 24 JAN 07
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT REQUESTS THAT:
1. His records be corrected to show he was discharged in the grade of
second lieutenant and his highest grade held was second lieutenant.
2. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the Purple
Heart (PH) Medal and the Silver Army Loop to the Good Conduct Medal
(GCM).
3. He served in Southern France, Central Europe, and Northern France
campaigns, while serving in the US Army Air Corps during World War II
from 2 March 1943 to 24 October 1945.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT CONTENDS THAT:
He was recommended for promotion to the grade of second lieutenant
prior to his discharge and the medals should have been listed in his
official military records.
In support of his request, applicant submits a personal statement, a
copy of a letter to his Congressman, a copy of the Letter of
Recommendation for a Direct Appointment, and a copy of his DD Form
214, Honorable Discharge Certificate from the Armed Forces of the
Unites States of America.
Applicant’s complete submission, with attachments, is at Exhibit A.
_________________________________________________________________
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
Applicant’s military personnel records were destroyed by fire in 1973.
His available records reflect he enlisted in the Army Air Corps on 2
March 1943, and was released from active duty on 24 October 1945. His
report of separation reflects award of the European African Middle
Eastern Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars, the Air Medal with 4
Oak Leaf Clusters (AM w/4 OLC) and the Good Conduct Medal. His
records reflect foreign service in Rhineland and Ardennes.
After a complete records review, DPPPR verified the applicant’s
entitlement to the AM w/4 OLC, the GCM, EAME w/2 BSS, the ACM w/1 BSS
and the World War II Lapel Button.
_________________________________________________________________
AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
AFPC/DPPAOR recommends denial. DPPAOR states a letter of
recommendation is not proof that the applicant would have been given a
direct commission as a second lieutenant. The letter of
recommendation is dated 7 March 1945 and he was discharged on
24 October 1945, which allowed ample time to promote the applicant.
The fact that he was discharged in the grade of technical sergeant
concludes that he was not given a direct commission.
The DPPAOR evaluation is attached at Exhibit C.
AFPC/DPPPR recommends denial. DPPPR states there are no documents
enclosed in the applicant’s record that verifies his entitlement to
the DFC, the PH, and the Silver Army Loop to the GCM.
The DPPPR evaluation is attached at Exhibit D.
_________________________________________________________________
APPLICANT'S REVIEW OF AIR FORCE EVALUATION:
Copies of the Air Force evaluations were forwarded to the applicant on
14 Dec 2005 and 16 Dec 2005, for review and comment within 30 days.
As of this date, no response has been received by this office.
________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD CONCLUDES THAT:
1. The applicant has exhausted all remedies provided by existing
law or regulations.
2. The application was not timely filed; however, it is in the
interest of justice to excuse the failure to timely file.
3. Insufficient relevant evidence has been presented to demonstrate
the existence of error or injustice. After a thorough review of the
evidence presented and the available evidence of record, we are not
persuaded that award of the DFC, PH Medal or the Silver Army Loop to
the GCM is warranted. The Board notes, a review of the applicant’s
available military record revealed no evidence that would substantiate
his entitlement to any of the aforementioned medals. The Board also
notes the evidence of record shows the applicant was correctly
discharged in the grade of technical sergeant, which was the highest
grade he held. Therefore, the Board is not persuaded that he was
given a direct commission or that he served in a higher grade. In
regards to the applicant’s request that his records be corrected to
show he served in the Southern France, Central Europe and Northern
France campaigns, no evidence was provided in support of his claim and
the available evidence of record could not substantiate that the
applicant served in these campaigns. Therefore, we agree with the
opinions and recommendations of the Air Force offices of primary
responsibility and adopt their rationale as the basis for our
conclusion that the applicant has not been the victim of an error or
injustice. In the absence of persuasive evidence to the contrary, we
find no compelling basis to recommend granting the relief sought in
this application.
_________________________________________________________________
THE BOARD DETERMINES THAT:
The applicant be notified that the evidence presented did not
demonstrate the existence of material error or injustice; that the
application was denied without a personal appearance; and that the
application will only be reconsidered upon the submission of newly
discovered relevant evidence not considered with this application.
_________________________________________________________________
The following members of the Board considered Docket Number BC-2005-
02297 in Executive Session on 8 February 2006, under the provisions of
AFI 36-2603:
Mr. Thomas S. Markiewicz, Chair
Ms. Dorothy P. Loeb, Member
Ms. Barbara R. Murray, Member
The following documentary evidence was considered:
Exhibit A. DD Form 149, dated 11 Jul 05, w/atchs.
Exhibit B. Applicant's Available Master Personnel Records.
Exhibit C. Letter, AFPC/DPPAOR, dated 14 Oct 05.
Exhibit D. Letter, AFPC/DPPPR, dated 16 Dec 05.
Exhibit E. Letter, SAF/MRBR, dated 23 May 05.
THOMAS S. MARKIEWICZ
Chair
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